Wild Flowers

Sunday May 19th, 2013

As I started off yesterday for my usual Sunday walk I found three couples looking over the work going on at Jardin de Charlotte. I explained what we are doing and encouraged them to look at the website and of course think about making a purchase. We also looked in and around the Chateau at the restoration work in the public areas of the building and the garden and swimming pool area. It seems that a visit is worth a thousand pictures.
Arlo the dog and I then wandered around the countryside close to Olonzac. It has been a spring with more than the usual amount of moisture so there are lots of wild flowers and things are very green. Hopefully this means conditions for the grape vines are ideal.

Sunday May 5, 2013

Arlo, the dog, and I walked along the canal today, around the lake, and through the vineyards. Normally we would go up into the hills of the National park of the Languedoc but I didn't think I had time for a long walk. In the end we walked for 3 hours and there was plenty of fetch played. In the valley it's not necessary to stick to the marked trails as you usually have a village within sight. The hills are another story because the country can be pretty wild as it's cut through with gorges every few kilometers.

Sunday April 21,2013
A great walk of 4 hours out of Caunne Minervois which is famous for it's abbey and marble quarries.
Heading northwest out of town we followed a marked trail to the top of the hills and then down through the forest to the valley of the Argent Double river. Crossing the river we headed uphill again circling around to the old royal quarry. A breezy cool day but flowers are blossoming everywhere.
We hardly saw a soul until we reached the quarry which had a few visitors. Magnificent views over the Minervois valley and it's towns and villages.

 April 15, 2013

Sunday's hike was just to the south of Olonzac along the Canal de Midi and up into the hills. The chapel is on the site of Chateau Bassanel where the first rumored and apparently approved golf course is supposed to be built someday. The Chateau can be reached by road, walking trail or by canal boat for wine tastings.
On top of a nearby hill sits a man made pinnacle of rocks with a survey marker set into the top from the time of the mapping of France in the late 18th century. The views are of the entire Minervois valley to the north and south to a panoramic view of the Pyrenees. A warm and sunny day made those photos too hazy I'm afraid. The lichen covered object on top is the author.

The regular Sunday walk this weekend was 3 hours from Cesseras, up to the ancient Cathar village of Minerve and along the gorge of the Cesse river. The picture is of the natural bridge below Minerve which the Cesse flows under. the walls of the gorge are riddled with caves in which evidence of human habitation going back hundreds of thousands of years has been discovered.

Retiring in France

http://www.facebook.com/l/vAQHF0OFUAQH_mPqGZ1a-924nTz8fbKtk0V7ebvnOrcP7Uw/ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-france-205328177.html
Here is a link to a great article about a couple that has retired to France.  It's not as difficult as you might think and especially appealing as spring has sprung. The fruit trees are in blossom and there is warmth in the sun.

Walking in the Minervois valley

March 10, 2013

The regular Sunday walk on a warm spring day. We started out at Tourouzelle just 5 kilometers from Olonzac for a three hour trek on well marked trails through the hills and vineyards. Tourouzelle is a small village on the other side of the Aude river from Olonzac. From the hills above the village are good views of the Minervois valley, Olonzac and the surrounding villages. The country side here varies from wooded slopes to vineyards and fruit tree orchards.
There was a strange site on the hill overlooking the village in the form of a 2 meter high bright blue toy bear sitting looking out at the view.

 Teddy bear picnic?

The Minervois valley with Olonzac at it's center

Tourouzelle with Lac de Jourres behind. This recreational lake is a short walk out of Olonzac and has a park, restaurant, swimming beach and sailing club.